Asbury Park, Bradley Beach boardwalks to get combined $4.6 million grant for rebuilding

Oct. 24, 2013

Businesses along the south end of the Asbury Park Boardwalk are trying to deal with rebuilding their businesses back up in this January file photo. / NJ PRESS MEDIA FILE PHOTO

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Two Jersey Shore municipalities will receive a combined total of nearly $4.6 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to repair their boardwalks, which were damaged in superstorm Sandy.

Congressman Frank Pallone Jr. announced Wednesday that Asbury Park will receive a $3.65 million grant that will cover 90 percent of the total repair cost. About 66,000 square feet of the city’s boardwalk was damaged in the storm.

“I believe the best way to mark the anniversary of Superstorm Sandy is by marking New Jersey’s resilience and efforts to rebuild, and this grant for the historic Asbury Park boardwalk does just that,” Pallone said in a release. “The reconstruction of Asbury Park’s boardwalk was critical to the city’s full recovery, and I’m pleased residents and tourists can enjoy the boardwalk once again thanks to this reconstruction effort.”

Bradley Beach also received preliminary approval for a grant of $1 million to help pay for a project repairing their Sandy-damaged boardwalk, bulkheads, dune fencing and recreation facilities along the beach.

“There is a great deal of required paperwork that makes this happen,” Bradley Beach Mayor Gary Engelstad said. “Without the attention to details and the cooperation of state and federal folks, this couldn’t have happened.”

Earlier this year, Asbury Park hired a contractor to complete temporary repairs to the area south of Convention Hall so it could be open for the summer. The Casino end of the boardwalk was permanently repaired.

The FEMA grant will cover the costs for repairing the remaining 42,000 square feet of boardwalk, according to Pallone’s office. Work will include new decking and the demolition and removal of an estimated 210 tons of damaged decking. The funding also will cover two new beach access points with ramps and stairs, installation of conduits, an electrical cabinet, 620 feet steel railings and nine new waterfront decorative street lights.